Hona
Renting tool

Deposit return letter generator, in Hungarian and English

Most deposits come back in full, and a short, friendly message is often all it takes. Fill in a few details and this page writes a polite request to your landlord in Hungarian, with an English translation underneath so you know exactly what you are sending.

Private by design

Everything happens in your browser. Nothing you type is sent to us or anyone else, and nothing is saved: close the tab and it is gone. Copy the text or save it as a PDF before you leave.

You and your landlord

As it appears on the lease.
If two of you signed the lease, the letter switches to "we".
Shown under your name so the landlord can reply easily.
Hungarian letters often use the full name, for example "Kovács Péter".
For example "1137 Budapest, Pozsonyi út 10. 3/12".

The tenancy

Leave empty for an open-ended (határozatlan) lease.
The day you signed the átadás-átvételi jegyzőkönyv when handing back the keys.

The deposit and where to send it

The amount you paid, in the currency of the lease. Usually 2 to 3 months' rent.
A Hungarian account number works too. It stays in this page and is never sent anywhere.
Leave empty to use the tenant name(s).
15 days is a fair, comfortable window (8 to 15 days is usual). Requested by: 15 days from the letter date.
For example "The keys and both access fobs were handed back on the day." It appears as written in both versions, so a short sentence in Hungarian or English works best.

Your letter

Live preview. Anything still in [brackets] is waiting for a detail above. Send the Hungarian version to your landlord; the English translation is for your own reference, or to include if your landlord prefers English.

Magyar

English translation

Sending it, and what comes next

Send the letter by email or message, or print and post it, and keep a dated copy for yourself. It helps to attach copies (never originals) of the lease, the handover record and your move-in and move-out photos, so everything is in one place. Many landlords reply within a few days, and a friendly note like this is usually where the conversation ends.

If a deduction is suggested

That is a normal conversation, not a dispute. The deposit (kaució) can cover unpaid rent, unpaid bills and damage beyond normal wear and tear, for reasons set out in the contract. Ask for the items and costs in writing, compare them with your handover record, and agree what is fair.

If there is no reply by the date

A short, polite reminder is a sensible next step. If that also goes unanswered, the next rung is a formal written demand (fizetési felszólítás) with a deadline of 8 to 15 days, sent so you can prove delivery. Our bilingual demand letter template (PDF) is ready for that. After that comes the payment order (fizetési meghagyás) through a notary. The deposit recovery guide walks through each step, with costs and timelines.

Good to know

This is a template, not legal advice. It is written as a cooperative first step, so it does not threaten anything. If the amount is large or the contract terms are unusual, a short check with a Hungarian lawyer (ügyvéd) is money well spent. A Hungarian-speaking friend glancing over the letter before you send it is a nice extra too.

Letter wording adapted from our bilingual deposit letter template. The recovery steps, the 8 to 15 day deadline norm and the deposit rules follow the sources listed on Getting your deposit back. Data and sources.

Planning your next move?

The rent calculator adds up the true monthly cost of a flat, from the közös költség to the utilities, and shows the cash you will want ready for the deposit and first month.

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